The number of asylum applications filed in the UK fell by 21% between June 2025 and June 2026, reaching its lowest annual level since 2022. According to figures from the British Home Office, 85,891 people sought protection, compared to 108,585 in the previous twelve months.
Around 40% of these applications were filed by migrants who arrived after crossing the English Channel in small boats. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood believes the Labour government is "restoring control" of the borders and fairness to the migration system. She also asserts that arrests related to illegal work and deportations have increased.
The number of migrants housed in hotels has been halved
The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has fallen to 16,021, its lowest level since these data began being published in 2022. In 2023, up to 56,018 people were housed in hotels, causing sometimes violent protests in several British cities.
The government wants to end this system by 2029 and transfer some asylum seekers to military bases, despite opposition from some local authorities. A reform aimed at tightening the conditions for obtaining asylum is also being examined in Parliament. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 42,394 people were granted refugee status or another type of residence permit, representing a 21% annual decrease.
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